The Sun. — London, England, 1809-04-25 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIANIENT. ROUSE OF PEERS. , MONDAY, 'APRIL 24. In the Appeal, The Parish of St. Gregory 7,, the Warden and Minor Canons of St. Paul's,' Mr. Richaids - and . gi. Weatherall were heard for the Re spondents, and Sit-Samuel Romilly in reply.—Judg ment on Wednesday.: . Seveial Private Bills were brought up from the Commons by Sir Robert Vaughan, Mr. Davenport, Sir Oswald Moseley, Earl Gower, Mr.' Wharton, Mr. Dogdale, and other Members, and read a 'first tune. The Hotise 'proCeeded in Poulett's Divorce Bill. Several witnesses were examined, and Mr. Burrough was heardoon behalf of the Petitioner. Some doubts were 'expressed' by the' Lord Chancellor and Lord . Auckland, as to the sufficiency of the evidence to prove an ate of adultery ; and the second reading of the Bill was deferred for a few days. The Scots, Records Bill passed - through a Cotn mince, the Report received, and the Bill ordered to be read a third time on Thursday. • The Earl of DaatwLey wished to know from the Noble Secretary of State, whether it was the inten tion of Ministers to recal Mr. Frere. He had .heard that there was such an,intention, and if so he should be satisfied; but if not, he considered the condua of Mr. Frere to haVe been so improper towards Sir ,John Moore, that he should feel it his ,duty to call the attention of their Lordships to the subjeta. He could not, however, at present name any day, nor could he state the' precise terms of his motion. The Earl' of Lavaltrow. said, he was ready to vouch for the zeal and ability of Mr. Frere, and vas convinced his intentions were good, bUt be had said on a former occasion, and was now of opinion, as were also Isis Colleagues,' that Mr. Frere had, so far as. related to the circumstance mentioned respeCling Sic John Moore, adopted an improper mode of carry ing his intentions into effeci. Whilst upon his legs, be wished to set himself right with respea to a mis representation that had gone abroad, of what he had said on Friday respeaing the amount of British ca.; valry iu Porttigal, on the ind of August, during the negociation of the Treaty of Armistice. He was stated to have said, that the number of our cavalry, on that day in Portugal exceeded that of the French, whereas what he .meant to state was, that it was known to Sir Harry Burrard, that a considerable re inforcetnent of cavalry was on its passage. It had, in point of fate; arrived at 'that time in Mondego Bay; but that could not be known at the period a the negociation, • the , knowledge, however, of its.being OD its way thither ought to have had greatinffuence in the negociatiOn. A short explanation took place bet Ween Earl PUY and the Earl of LIVERPOOL, respecting the number of cavalry in Portugal at the time Of the armistice, The Earl of SUFFOLK, called the attention of their Lordships to the circumstance of several horses being killed during the retreat in Spain, ill conse quence of, there being no shoes for them. Earl -GROS;VENOa stated, that a misrepresentation had gone abroad of what be had said respefAing Ge• ;Fiera! Anstruther, who, he WAS stated to }cave said, had o cti,: mat's' - eepettenee'd uv pSAstothinth- lion from his Staff, and from those around hiM. Whilst upon this subjea, however, be wished to throw out fur their Lordships' consideration the pro priety of relaxing a little the strilness of their orders, as the best was of preventing misrepresentation. • l'he Archbishop of CANTHRBURY rose to ask Lord Atickla , ,d whether it was his intention to propose the measure which be hid lately mentiuned, for the better prevention of Adultery, and what was 'the. na 4tre of it ? LORI AUCKLAND said, he should bring forward the Subjed on an early day, and should then state in de tall his proposed measure. • AdjoUttlid tilt to.morrow (this day). HOUSE OF COMMOAS. Mr. rATTISOIf moved the Order of the Day that the Norwich Bridge Bill be now read a second t i me, which was`opposed by Mr. Mr.Sattra, on thegrounds whig,ll lie:stated on a fOrrneenight, and he therefore intived an. amendment that the Bill be read a second time this day biX 11)0111115. Mr.'.l ) 4ll.lsos hoped at least that tho House would permit the Bill 'to go toe Committee in Which evidence may be examined on-the subje ct. The House divided.—lfor. the second reading, Ayes 48.—Noes 2ti.-111aiority 22. The Bill wily) then read a spcund time, and ordered to be com mitted, Mr, Ctirtwerr gave notice that he would move, to-rnorrovv, s' That there bo, laid berme the Howie a copy of the Minutes, as tar as relates to a seat in Parliament,. taken before the COWITIkiIdLICI'S of Bankrupts,. ail far as related to the bankruptcy of News. Walsh and Nesbit." • . • DORCHESTER IAIL. „ , Mr. Watillaalirk:SalLl, ne held in Ins hand a Pe tition front Mr. Henry White, - confined in Dorches ter Jail for a libel, which he presented, and was ac cordingly read try the Clerk, and contained the se veral allegations in his fernier Peti:ion, :is far as re lated to the mode of proceeding on his triAl. " Mr. - Wnyreaustp said, the only motion that be would make in the present instance was, to move, that the Petition be laid on the table. Ile wished to Kaye it understood, he „did not luild himself 1184)064We for the allegations, which, 'if well found. 4 d , he would make the subject - of 'future, i nquiry . fie bad to state, at the request of Mr. Gilbert Wake bra. relations, that ha never heard of his having b, en charged 'With eeitiug any cliscunte h t the jail, u bad, been stated on a• former occasion, whk-h ha thetight it lint justice to state to the thetnpi.y or an eminent scholar. lice. allegations, - 11(1 uederstooJ, Of the proceedings Olt the trial of Mr. White were to 'come befOre . the House, of Lnids,which,itt the present period, would prevent him tnakitig it y motion_ cn the subjett. The .Petition presented staled so m e I.ratAit.:es to prevail,which, ifirne, required correttion. to -the first place, it was alit:led, that a persoo in ihz,..CroWn OtiiFe had the - pnwer,to pass Over any iaitz 11) a SR:63i :Tiny that he t hortz,hr fi'.oll , dr might “; on until he .i.tleded such pci,ons tro ruoulittely in timid ti-a the Crott,i);-..if V%4,''f.l the fad - Certainly no sur!li pract;ee Onohr tp .prActicewas, that dit. Jury that found /or the - Crown received two guineas per mao, whereas if they found against the Crown, they re ceived but one each. It was also said in the case where a Juryman found for the subject, he never was summoned again, by which means he - lost the remuneration given to Jurymen, which to some he feared was an objed. He thought it also a very great grievance, that persons should be sent to a distant place of confinement away from business and friends. He would say no more at present, but merely move that the Petition be laid on the table. Mr. CALCRAFT recapitulated what he had stated on a former night witli respeet to the accommoda- tion of Mr. White.' He had a comfortable room, and his wife slept with him whenever he thought proper, and he had besidei access to the yard to take the air. His present Petition was modified, but, as a Magistrate for Dorchester, he thought proper to state what he had done, as he with his brother Ma gistrates never wished to see a prisoner sent from London to the 'jail, which was a burthen to the county. _ _ _ Mr, WINDHAM said, he listened with great Wen. tion to the - allegations contained in the Petition, and did not see that there was any ground of complaint for improper severity. The Petitioner complained of what every person knew to be a' feta ' , that Dorm chester gaol was a place in whiplt persons were con fined. He said nothing but that the plate in which he had to walk was a round yard; but if he had an objeCtion to walk in a circular space, he might square it if he thought necessary. He also complained, truly, that he was confined with debtors and smug glers... He could not but admire the lofty and con tumelicius manner, in which he spoke of his fellow prisoners, many of -whom were, by too much con- . lidence in others, brought to ruin and distress,"with out any offence of their. own. He wai, indeed, very much surprised to hear the aristocratical rw flettions of Mr, White, whom he understood was a very great teacher of the principles 01 liberty and. equality. The ATTORKRY-GENERAL observed, that the per- . son from whom his Hon. Friend received his infor mation must have known that the praetice had long ceased of paying'a juryman two guineas, if he found for the Crown, and only one guinea it' he found ter thersuhjedt. Such a praOce did formerly exist ; but, not within his memory ; he therefore was surprised that he should have thrown out any such refiettions, withoUt he Intep that such abuses did certainly exist,. and which ought, it' they did exist, to be corral ed: He denied that. jurors who found ..against the Crown. were after Wards struck out of the list ; and he was convinced that any Officer, •who was guilty of Such atransadtion, would he dismissed by the Judge, who had the controul over him as an Officer of .the Crown. Mr. Wit !TRH RAD spOlcbin eiplanation. Mr. MARRIOT he was on a Jury in Corn wall, in a case between the,Croww and a Corporal lion, and with others foUnd for the CorporatiOn against the direztion of the Jury, but he was after• wards l annmoned.on a Special Jury. , , •Sir FRANCIS BURDETT' was glad to near_tnat the shameful pradice had been left off, whereby Jury men were paid double because they found for the Crown. It howevr appeared extraordinary that the Learned Gentleman had passed met the great question, that of the F l agraative„Cm r rimptmi g i re v a tried, to aay part of the kingdom, to be confined in a' distant' jail. He confessed that he felt himself much ditoppoinied in not being. enligateneu in this point by his M tjesty's Attorney-General. Thi , cer- Wilily was a circumstauce as hoimile to the spirit of the t onstitution as that was abominable of teinune .rating aJurytuan because he found tOr the Crown. If the subject ghoul , 1 be lotlowelt up the CroWn could ruin any county, by sending to its gaols those con fined in every other gaol to the kingdom. Was it just or proper, he asked, to aggravate any man's punish went, by sending him two or three hundred miles away from his friends anti his business lie could not define, what the word libel meant. Formerly. sit months, was thought a sufficient punishment ,' ,but now, three years, by some merciful Gentlemen, were thought too little.for a, man so &finding to be incur-. oerated. He was happy, hoWever, 'to find the sub, jea was at length brought forward by an How Gen- . ileum so well qualified, and so well inclined to, do it justice. The AtTORNEY*GENBILAL observed, that it was not the Lxecutive Gortirnment,.!)ut the Jtidgei of the. Court of King's Bench that passed lenienc e , and the reasou why he did uut enter more at length into the subjed was; because it W3B to be brought tor• ward on a futuru occasion. The Cuariczt.Lott of the EXCHEQ.VER observed, that the arguments of the Hon. Baronet were found ed on misconception, and before alitgations Were made kir awl-louse interfered, it ought to have been first .sliewn that the Petitioner was denied redress in the Gitirts of Law. The Petition was then ordered to be laid ou the table. • Mr. WHITIMAD. presented another Petition from Mr. Hart,. confined in Gloucester Jail ter the same offence, stating, that • all communications made to him and from him by letter were inspetted. The Hon. Member thought it very extraordinary that two persons : confined for the same offence should be punished in a daeretit manner, as was the case in sending' them to different jails. • The Petition was received, .and.ordered to be laid on the table. Mr. Enats gave notice, that he would move to mOrrow.tor the production of certain Papers,' tocla cidate the correspundeuce between SirJ: Moore and Air. F'rere; particularly Mr. Frere's Letter to Sir J. Woure, 'of the ad of December: 'LON TEMI'LIi Postponed, from Friday till Toes day next, his motion resi:ding tho result of the Campaign in Spain. Mr. I'ONSONISY gave notice, that he would to-mor row move em. hutuule Address to his. Majesty, pray. ing that his Majesty would be graciously pleased to order that thew be laid before the House copies of nine letters, written by Sir Hew Dalrymple to Lard Castlereagh, op the. State of SprO, previous to the of May. He observed, that he had gOod rea. ; xuu to think that they contained matter* - . The SI 3 EAKBA preieoted the Hon, Gentle Tan from proceeding, on the ground that' 4e.: ou g ht to , confine himselt to a simple notice. ' 4. Mr. 'MARTIN postponed his motion,i which stood for Wed6sd.iy, to this day fe !u n i g h t . ",Mr. Witvrattz , o7, gave notice, that it was his in tention to,4ibmit.to the House u moljon respectin g Clidtite Qh 1+44 . Pure,' but 'fluitle.would 'wait ,the result of the disent►sioe. er which his Noblt Friend (Lord Temple) had just given notice., Mr. Secretary CANNING presented copiet of "the note to himself from Admiral Apodaca, dated the 9th March, tsog, and his answer illereto.—tchdered to be printed. REVERSION BILL. Lord PonceRSTER rose, in pursuance of his no• tice, to move for leave to bring in' a Bill to *Whit, the granting.of Offices in Reversion, for Joint Lives with benefit of Survivorship. His Lordship 'stated, that the Bill which he introduced was precisely, si milar to that which, having passed the House of Commons the Sessions Wore last, had been rejected by the other House of Parliament, In consequence of that rejection the House had adchessed the King, praying his Majesty, that he would be .graciously pleased to suspend the granting of such reversions until the next Sessions of,Parliament. To this Ad dress a favourable answer was returned. In the next Session the House again passed the Bill, which was again rejected by the. other House. "Upon this event the House of Commons appointed a Comtnittee to search the Journals of the House'of Lords, for the purpose of discoVering ,the source of their persever ing resistance to a measure .for which the Country called aloud, and against which there was, in the Lower House, not a dissenting voice. This ComMittee did so search, and they did discover the solution of the riddle. They (eland upon the Journals of the House of Lords a protest, which it was not too much to say, bore no inconsiderable rank amongtt he recorded fol lies of Princes. The signatures attached to that protest .it was impossible to contemplate without pain; but that pain was considerably alleviated by the consi deration that the name of that illustrious Princes who was nearest this. Throne, and nearest the hopes of the Country, was not there to be found. Of the value of the Bill, it was impossible to doubt that House entertained as high an opinion as ever, since no circumstances had occurred that could tend to change that opinion. , The Noble Lord opposite might, if he chose, furnish the House with a list of Offices in Ireland, which had been, as it were, re. suscitated, and the existence of whic hl had been se cured frir ages to come, as if to atone for their hav ing so long been 'allowed to remain unfilled. That Noble Lord could also inform the .House. for what purpose these transaaions took place, and with what success they were attended. He. toned that the . Bill which he should have the honour to propos e would be received without opposition. If passed, it would coneea itself with the hope of a temperate reform ; if rejected, the rejection would conneet it self with that system of indifference with which the Reports of the Committees on Public Expenditure had been allowed to lie on the table, since the.ac cession to office 'of the present Administration. — The only objection which he could anticipate to his motion was, that this was not a convenient time to introduce the Bill ; but that it would be better to wait until the next Session, the Suspension Bill not expiring. until six weeks ' after its commencement. But the House had a pledge to redeem ; they had a duty to perform ; no day could be too early to re deem that pledge and to . perform Oat duty, and in his opinion the , least procrastination would .he too late— Thepressure of public business was at, present light. The "House Could 'give to so grave a question the deliberation which was due to it even werqcl?'!; - • 1 when there were such important duties to charge. . He, trusted that the House had re-as sembled with the same spirit on th e subj e ct. Wh en the protest to which he alluded was NO on their table, a feeling, he might almost say, of indigna tion was itlent. They had seewn much of old- English obstinacy in their condttet on this subject hide,' to, and if they did not . continue:A° evince a redundancy rather then a deficiency in that 'quality, they would be do longer the genuitie representatives of the English' people. In the.e storiny . times, when every toeuorrow brought its grief l, and iti cares, and its ditties, it was unitise to postpone that which mi g ht be immediately executed. In the events hatching in the womh of time, 'who could 14 that_ there might not be matters of national ine terest so, importent , as wholly to engross the retells tioh. of Parliattieet - 'during - the *first biX Weeks of the next Sessioe, and., to preclude :the possibtli-, ty of discussing this Bill ? His experience :with regard to the Residence Bill, which was hurried' . through Parliament : se.. precipitately, in order :to : prevent. the evils attendant on the expiration of ri 'temporary measure, taught him What, - to wiped, on similar occasions. It was inconvenie nt ,to pa t ' the bill at present ! But was convenience the only: ground of objeaion ? He doubted - - not; Princes would :sometimes frown,, and Wheh binges :frown-, ed, subjeas were apt to tremble. He trusted, how ever, that the House 'would have.too much regard . fro their own charaCter, :not to over-rule any objec t' tion founded on such a'basis. Were they to be toldi that the Bill ought ;not to be pressed, because by' not 'preside"; it those *Whom it had been opposed wotrldbe kept in good ,humour ?. Was that the way' in which Mara Charta,• and' the Bill of Rights, were obtained from Peers, end: Prince' ? It was not by behaving as needy supplicants at 'a Minister's le vee, but by a firm and persevering condi.i.7:l that our ancestors obtained the important points for which. they.wete contending, If Ministerstuunt-tO op pose, the Bill, he trusted that they would do it man- Jullyi that they would not act indirectly; that they Would come-down on, the plain, and weak as he was, he pledged himself to buckle en his armour and to give • them battle. Above all, he trusted that they would . not instrutt the House of Commons how to please the House of Lords-=that they would throw out no insinuations in what mode the measure might be made palatable to " their Noble F r ie n d s i n anot h er place.' If they gave advice, lie hoyealthat it would not be to advise the Howi e of Commons to.bendio the dignity of the House of Lords by compromising their own; he hoped that it would be toedv:se the House of Lords better to consult the dignity of the House of Commons. If they were in the habit of .advising Princes--‘and the country knew that when Princes had occasion to write. letters, they did find ready, if not discreet advisers—he hoped that their advice would correspond with their duty. Was there tw friendly monitor to tell Princes what they were,. and what the House of Cotnosons were ? Rank and title were their oWtt ; but for their wealth and spied: dour they were indebted to the people They were tee rich feliage which decorated the Corinthian ca , pital; btit - the strength of the'eolumn - tivas in its slesftt /f his Majesty'a Mtnisteri were the true 'and faithful *Mitts 91 the CicAin and of the 4otztury, they would represent this. If, however,• they were only the light chaff which the:gate of Princely favour, had raised to its present height, they might indeea 1 ride in the whirlwind," but they would dot be able. to " direa the storm." By the proposed Bill Par-. 'lament would be only doing by the Crewn as care ful parents would do by their children; they would only, prevent the waste of its prerogative, and the bankruptcy of its patronage. The inquisitorial rune , tions of Parliament had too long and too soundly slept in the lap of Confidence—a confidence which grew out of .the excellence of our ConstitutiOn.-- * The eyes olthe country were turned upon the House: if they meant ultimately to carry the question, they must not procrastinate. His Lortl ship concluded by moving for leave to bring its a Bill, &c. • The CHANCELLOR of the' EXCHRQURR was sur prised at the way in which the Noble Lerd had chosen to magnify the present subjea *as if it were similar to the struggles of our ancestors, ,for Magna Charm and the Bill of Rights ; and as if it corn• • prised within itself every thing vital to the Coma , tution. For his part, he had never disguised his opinion of the Bill. He could. never see in it that importance .which was attached to - it by many; be did •not perceive that it contained any serious attack on the prerogatives of the Crown; and much less did he conceive that it comprehended any valuable acquisition to the privileges of the people. As an economical measure it was nothing, or rather it was probably injurious; for there were many instances in which at present services were rewarded with re versions, which services, if the proposed Bill were to become a law, must receive some immediate re, Ward of perhaps greater value. He would proceed to state the grounds of his dissent to the introduce tion of the Bill at present. An Att was in force, and which would not expire until a certain period • after the commencement of the next Session, by ' which all the evils complained of by the advocates • of the measure were prevented. Till the expi ration of that Aa, grants in reversion could not take .place. The House had the report Pi the Committee to take into consideration, and. the notice of an Honour - able Gentleman fixed that consideration for next week. Under these circuit"- stances, to discuss the Bill at present, appeared to him inexpedient and premature. The instance of the Residence Bill was not in point. Had that Bill not been passed before the expiration oldie tempo rary measure, considerable evils would have ensued s but should a Bill for abolishing reversions be intro duced in the next Session of Parliament, and should it not reach the period before the expiration of the Suspension mt, could it for a moment be supposed that any Minister would advise his Majesty to grapt a reversion under such circumstances, and thus to take advantage of the' interval of a fortnight pr three weeks'that might elapse, at a time when the attend tion of Parliament would be so steadily direeted to the subjeCt ? The Noble Lord bad spoken of 01 happiness of the Constitution. Was, he warrant. in founding on his declaration of the happiness 9t that Constitution, so violent a declaration 1%1 4 1 4 those who look with a jealous eye at plans il w4 P •which, under the semblance of advantage, the CO stination might sustain injury ? Was it sorprising that those - wba felt the value, and were aware of tots -€ Lose goon "'re to guard against any speciouS amendinetir wilt* might have a pernicious etfeCt t on these ground s he telt it to be his d u ly to o ppose the introdec ti op ci the Bill. Mr. BANXER said, thatit WAS not his intention to propose a Bill of this nature in the preserv e S e ssi nl l t because on . considerations of general .policy , it wita. his (Tinton that the object desired would be obtaitiect with more facility by not pressing it, than by otior ing it forward. At the same time he had no colt?' to make against the Noble Lord , ' or agajos! , other Hon. Gentlemen who thought differently, It the Noble/ Lord thought there was a greater proh:o bility of obtaining the desired object by 4nTygiocing such a Bill in the•present, tallier than in the Session, he' had done hisduty in intsoducing its attd he wished it more success in his hands than it had met with sit his own.. The Suspension Bili of tile last Session was a measure winch he had propo,edi not from choice but from necessity. He had thonght. it nest to take all the good that he could get. --1 Thera were :prudes till reasons existing winchtnada hint think that it .: * . fts 'not wisp at present to intror duce another 13111. He declared, that , be had noF known any thing of the sentiments of his Bight Hit Friend opposite on the .subjea, Until ItOw / 11 '' lie bad just delivered them. . With regard-to his own. opinion,, he bad but one. It was decidedly in .favon • cif the measure; and heheiped'ilie Flcntse W(10 1 . 6'6 ' 4 ver linagineohat he had deserted cr grown indifr t. rent to it, because. he; oneeived that it was not jo.! dieioos to.pg4te'titegubjeet at present. As the 13 1 • had been proposed, however, the introductiOn , certainly have his support. - Lord 'H. PETTY Contended, in opposition to !bet Right Hon. the Chancellor of theßacheqeer, t 3" the Bill would opetate to relieve the public from `"::: necessary burt hens. It was impossible to relcr. r _ any .of, tine retimus instituted by Mr. Pitt, or by 1 _ 1 1. 1 :, Noble Friend then &Went in Ireland, w i ,.. tbnot calving that they Were materially impeded th e b Y,,.a 'principle of reversionary grants, which the Bill went to abolish. As to the Report of the C4, i n n " rnittee, of which notice had been given by 00""" Friend of his, God * forbid that that motion should ib t '„ confined to that part of the Report which relat ed ~t.. reversions. Bat whatever mightbe the op nion oft! House on that Report, - with regard to other fen; and regulations, how could that opinion I'll 4 . et f 41 01 with co. militate against the opinion already .u n tt mously adopted and declared on the s O bjeCt of revberhi, siotts ? Besides, was there nothing in his I '4' , Friend's_ argument of respell for the other ; HouS e r Would it not be most decorous to afford to tha t o d to House a. due time for the consideration of a .acibje, on which there existed such a . difference of **Win' s ; The flight .Hen. Gentleman calledmeasure the i on specious plan. If ire thought it a speciou s p _ the la swehoseinonh:fie bad gav then desertedeliis.asset h oa sim i lar duty by Bill to the House so, It any thing had occurred to inn u . ; e : birn to change his opinion of the Bill, he now,`,l 10, serted his duty by not telling the House so.. Bill came recommended by every cons ideratio . his . cordial support. els t lor the policy and. expediency, and shook.) certainly 'Pt° Gentlemen opposite to deliver their Itent',f/W il _ • o . Mr, Leaser thought the backwardn, Ivo